MOBI-Rio reports that two new “direct” services are scheduled to start operating on September 19. They are: Madureira x Alvorada and Penha x Alvorada. Both lines will be operated by 38 articulated buses, which will be rented for six months. This is an emergency and temporary measure with the aim of reinforcing the operation of the BRTs during peak hours, from 5 am to 9 am and from 16 pm to 20 pm. These lines will reinforce services 46 (Alvorada x Penha) and 40 (Madureira x Alvorada).
These buses operated in the city of São Paulo and were removed from the system with the renewal of the fleet in the capital. This way, it was possible to rent the vehicles until the process of renewing the fleet in Rio de Janeiro begins, scheduled for next month. Even though they are articulated low-floor buses, there will be no need to adapt the vehicles, since they will not stop at intermediate stations, but rather inside terminals and areas without raised platforms.
The initiative aims to bring more comfort to the population that uses the BRT system until the arrival of the 291 new vehicles (220 articulated buses and 71 standard buses) already purchased. The City Hall will bid this year for approximately 300 more articulated buses, with delivery scheduled between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024.
